Student Services

Courses

To view all of the current courses in the DVM program, please visit the U of S Course and Program Catalogue. The following Subject Codes refer to all courses offered by the WCVM (DVM and graduate programs):

Academic calendar

Scholarships and bursaries

Over 170 various awards with an accumulated value of more than $330,000 are available to students enrolled in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's DVM program.

The U of S Academic Services and Financial Assistance Office administers some of these awards while others are overseen by the WCVM Awards Committee. Many of these scholarships and bursaries have specific deadline dates, selection criteria and submission requirements.

Student organizations

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s student body is organized through the Western Canadian Veterinary Students’ Association (WCVSA). Its objectives are to:

instill a strong sense of professional pride and dignity in veterinary students

stimulate interest in professional organizations like the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the provincial veterinary medical associations.

promote awareness of the opportunities provided by these provincial, national and international veterinary organizations.

promote the interests and welfare of veterinary students with regard to educational, social and athletic life.

The WCVSA oversees all of the student-related matters and is governed by an Executive Council that’s elected by the student body. Members of the WCVSA Executive Council are elected each spring and meet periodically at the request of the WCVSA president.

The 2017-18 WCVSA president is Kenny May, while the WCVSA president-elect is Sheldon Cousins.

This club is a student chapter of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour. Membership provides WCVM students with the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of animal behaviour by attending lunch talks and field trips, and participating in the WCVM's Teaching Dog Training Program. Past events include stock dog and clicker training labs, as well as presentations on swine enrichment and animal behaviour cases in private practice.

This organization is for anyone interested in aspects of animal welfare in both production and companion animals, along with its application to veterinary medicine. Past events include talks on kangaroo welfare, low-stress cattle handling, and shelter medicine presented by the BCSPCA. This year, we are planning to compete in the intercollegiate animal welfare judging competition at Ohio State University.

This club strives to provide students the tools and resources needed to succeed in the veterinary business profession after the completion of their veterinary degree. Educational speakers and materials in the areas of client development, legal, financial, human resources and practice management augment the medical knowledge obtained at the WCVM. Lunch and after-school seminars/workshops are held regularly, fostering relationships between students and business leaders throughout Western Canada.

Members promote student participation and interest in veterinary emergency and critical care medicine through hands-on wet labs and small animal emergency teams, by providing information about further education and training, and by informing members about potential opportunities to gain work and volunteer experience. The club is a chapter of the Student Emergency and Critical Care Society (SVECCS).

Throughout the school year, club members offer equine wet labs, guest presentations and other activities that provide students with more insight into equine practice. As part of its community involvement, club members also organize an annual equine seminar day for local 4-H and Pony Club members. The WCVM Equine Club operates as a student chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and has access to AAEP-supported resources and events.

This college-endorsed, student initiative allows undergraduate veterinary students a unique opportunity to investigate international animal health care in the country or countries of their choice. Initiated in 2002, groups of second-year WCVM students have spent part of their summers in Peru, Africa, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Mongolia, India and Sri Lanka.

This organization provides students the opportunity to gain interpretive skills for radiology, as well as advanced imaging modalities such as MRI, CT, and ultrasound. Challenging and relevant clinical cases from all species are discussed in weekly, student-led rounds. This club also provides insight into career opportunities in the rapidly expanding field of veterinary medical imaging. Activities include weekly rounds (every Monday at lunch in Room 2104), wet labs, pizza lunch seminars and guest speakers.

This organization brings together students who are interested in production animals including cattle, swine and poultry as well as individuals who wish to gain additional knowledge and experience in theriogenology. The club organizes a variety of activities including wet labs, monthly rounds, field trips, seminars and guest speakers. The Production Animal Club also supports student members of the Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners (WCABP) and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) as well as student members of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV).

As a student chapter of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, the WCVM Veterinary Pathology Club encourages student involvement in the field of veterinary pathology and introduces members to the diverse career opportunities available in the discipline.

This club brings together students who are interested in practising companion animal medicine. The club strives to expand students' knowledge beyond the classroom through various club activities including lunch-time seminars on relevant and upcoming topics. Members also aim to gain hands-on experience through supplementary wet labs. The club provides leadership, mentorship and externship opportunities for students through its partnerships with the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the American Animal Hospital Association.

Entirely organized by WVCM veterinary students, this two-day public exposition is held every two years at the college. The open house allows people of all ages to see a variety of displays, demonstrations and talks that showcase animal health care, research, veterinary careers and public health. Visit the Vetavision web site for more information.

The Wild and Exotic Animal Medicine Society (WEAMS) is a non-profit organization that’s operated by student volunteers at the WCVM. When concerned citizens bring in ill or injured wildlife to WCVM’s Veterinary Medical Centre, WEAMS’ dedicated members work closely with supervising clinicians to provide care for these special patients. The goal is to fully rehabilitate all patients and to release them in their natural habitat. Visit www.weams.usask.ca.

This student-run club has the goal of acquiring and sharing knowledge on the health and diseases of wild animals in relation to their biology, conservation and interactions with humans and domestic animals. Members will have the opportunity to network with other students and professionals in the field of wildlife health, and to receive regular invitations to workshops, labs, seminars and social activities related to wildlife disease and health. We also host an annual karaoke night, a yearly dog sledding trip, camping and hiking trips, and other outdoor activities for members who like to get outside!

Rotations and externships

During their fourth and final year, WCVM veterinary students complete a series of two- or four-week practical rotations in a range of disciplines and interest areas. The rotations provide students with an opportunity to develop, integrate and apply veterinary medical knowledge and skills in a clinical setting under faculty supervision.

While most of these rotations take place in the WCVM Medical Centre, some students also gain clinical and applied experience at locations outside of the WCVM.

Links

Submit completed forms to the WCVM Student Services Office (WCVM 4117). Note: Students are only permitted to make two changes to their clinical rotation during the year.

When expertise in a certain discipline or animal health area isn't available at the WCVM, senior veterinary students have the option of arranging an externship at another institution or practice in North America.

Before the externship application deadline of January 29, students must: